Researcher Launchpad

Where discovery meets opportunity…

Completed Get Started? Now you're ready for the next step..

Join Researcher Launchpad - an 8-week pre-accelerator programme designed for final year PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers from across all faculties with ambitions to develop commercial ventures.

This programme builds directly on the foundations laid in Get Started, helping you move from early stage ideas to real-world opportunities

 

How Researcher Launchpad Will Help You Succeed

• Problem-First Thinking – Identify real-world problems your research can solve and genuine market need
• Connect with Stakeholders – Gain hands-on experience in market research to validate your idea.
• Practical Business Skills – Learn from experts, mentors, and peers to gain confidence navigating the entrepreneurial world

What You’ll Gain 

• Lean business model – build a venture concept grounded in evidence
• Pitch-ready deck – communicate your idea with clarity and confidence
• Actionable plan – take your next steps toward innovation and venture creation
• Personal growth – reflect on your founder potential and build your network 

Designed For You 

• Hybrid Format – combines in-person boot camps and online sessions to fit around your research commitments
• Customer Discovery Phase – test your assumptions with real users and stakeholders
• Expert-Led Sessions – IP, finance, business modelling and more
• Hands-On Tools – use canvases, AI tools and templates tailored for researchers to map problems, personas, markets and business models 
• Supportive Community – join a cohort of like-minded researchers with opportunities for peer learning and networking with experienced founders 

Eligibility

To apply for this programme, you must:

• Be a final year PhD student (Years 3-4) or a Postdoctoral Researcher (within 2 years of graduation)
• Have an entrepreneurial idea that you’ve been developing and are ready to take forward
• Have completed the compulsory Get Started programme
• Be able to attend all sessions of the programme
• Be committed to continuing to develop your venture through Venture Builder after the programme ends

 

Key Dates

Activity	Date
Information Sessions	11:00-12:00, Friday 17th October (Online) 12:00-13:00, Friday 24th October (Online) 11:00-12:00, Friday 31st October (Online) Register to find out more
Applications Open	Monday 29th September 2025 Apply Now
Deadline to apply	23:59, Tuesday 4th November 2025
Selection Announcement	Friday 7th November 2025
Boot Camp Dates	Tuesday 11th November & Friday 28th November 2025
Full Programme	Tuesday 11th November 2025 - Wednesday 4th February 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translate your research discoveries into impactful enterprises, supported by tools and expertise to bridge research and reality.